Live It Out

Metric

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2007)
• Original Release Date: September 27, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Last Gang Records
• ASIN: B000B66H64
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,555 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.ca

Toronto's Metric has the ability to appeal to fans on a number of levels: the group captures the likeability of Elastica with the cheekiness of Blondie and then mixes that new wave style with just enough of a growling guitar to give it some oomph. Since their last release, the acclaimed Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, Metric's sound has morphed slightly; this follow-up is a little more guitar-based and slightly less electronic than their last, a move likely to broaden their fan base even further.

Metric's rock-meets-new-wave is not only timely, it is joyful to boot. The driving track "Handshakes" could easily qualify for the next ipod commercial, while "Monster Hospital"'s retro punk style has a Clash-inspired chorus that will stay in your head for days. By the same token, the band's musical diversity is especially evident in the beautiful "The Police and the Private," where one could easily imagine that they are listening to an up-tempo Sarah Harmer track. Metric's cross-genre appeal is at least party due to frontwoman Emily Haines' delivery. A smart writer and performer, Haines' contributions to the Broken Social Scene collective have already made her voice somewhat familiar, and in her own element she shines especially bright. From her delicate whispers (the Pink Floyd-esque "Ending Start") to her Eurotrash-inspired yelps ("Live It Out") Haines has the "it" factor that makes indie rock critics swoon, and keeps fans dedicated. --Denise Sheppard

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For The Love Of God . . .Own This!, April 8, 2006

By	S.G.R. Black (Denton, Texas) - See all my reviews

Emily Haines is one lady who knows how make things come alive. She's the best part of Broken Social Scene, "Swimmers" was the best track on their latest, her version of "Lover's Spit" is achingly beautiful, and she leads Metric, whose "Live It Out" has lead me to remember how Rock music used to . . . well ROCK!
I first heard "Glass Ceiling" and first off I thought the guitars were awesome. It sounds so rich and deep and the drums beats down hard and loud. "Handshakes and Monster Hospital" are infectious rock goodies that will have you repeating "buy this car to drive to work/ drive to work to pay for this car" and "I fought the war but the war won!" One of my favorites is "The Police and The Private" which is a gorgeous helping of sleekness and awe. There are other great songs that are riddled with spooky and dream-like keyboard playing that if you close your eyes you might just see "Live It Out" the movie playing in your head. Cool? Hell yeah! Thought provoking? Sure! It's nice to know that although Emily fought the war and lost, she's still alive.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poster of a band!, April 18, 2006

By	Tankery "Tankery" (New Orleans) - See all my reviews

This is one of the best albums this year. With Emily Haines consistently sounding like Naomi Watts looks (compelling, wistful, with just an trace of trash around the edges), and enough sparse yet potent 80s-inspired guitar hooks, this Toronto band hangs with the best.

It's a good move away from the more electronic based previous album to this, a more guitar-based effort. The first song starts mellow and explodes into controlled noise and the album never looks back. With a striking indie sound that echoes the harder-edged 80s sounds of such groups as Romeo Void and even a touch of the Pretenders, Metric is carving out a strong presence.

If they don't fall under the Canadian stigma of working too hard to be commercial after early cult success, their next album will be even better.

There's no weak cuts and the song Poster of a Girl, which clearly strikes at commercial success the hardest, while being a great song, might be the only suspect song here. But while the song works way too hard at being clever, its still a great song in its own right.

Any fan of 80s inspired Indie rock should own this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it's not wrong to want more than a folk song , March 10, 2006

By	L. Tafro "doubter at large" (ocean county, nj) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just walked in from metric destroying webster hall march 06 and all I can say is wow! live, they aim for the fences, playing their small theatre show for an arena-sized audience. i am reminded of the first times i saw phish in my college town of ithaca ny, the sense of witnessing the birth of a phenomenon. That is not to equate this music with any sort of jam band tradition or convention. Metric blend the sound of new wave, dance punk and angular art rock into a new genre onto themselves. They play "Metric"-style. The slow songs kill; are beautiful, swaying. hypnotic. The frenzied songs find a manic intensity in front of a crowd and Emily Haines rides the line between playing the song and playing the room masterfully. Not once did I think that she or the band was willing to forgo the aesthetics of their delectably layered songs for the sake of an empty crowd-arousal gimmick, yet the band always seemed intensely connected to the audience. The 14+ minute breakdown of Dead Disco they did tonight was a masterwork of abstract anti-matter. If you're not already fully on board the metric bus, run to see them live as soon as you can. That is a command. If you already are, then maybe consider selling some earthly possessions and going on "tour". Yeah. It's that good.